From Inafune's Lament to The Real Medal of Honor - News Roundup 12th October 2010

Dead Rising 2 Director Hates His Job; Wants To Retire

Poor old Keiji Inafune is always moaning about something or other. Seemingly every public statement heralds dire warnings about the death of Japanese gaming or the fact that "everyone" is making terrible games. This week, however, Keiji's moaning about how hard it being Capcom's R&D head honcho... and that he wants to pack it all in. When asked about whether he enjoyed his job in a recent interview, Inafune replied:

It's the opposite! I hate it! I want to retire early and take it easy.

Inafune continued by explaining why he's having a tough time at work. Apparently, people who enjoy their jobs tend to take it slow- for example, taking on a small production role in a game like Dead Rising for a relatively high salary.

There are loads of creators like that. But I'm not like that. If things are difficult while they are doing it, they can become a leader and a creator.

It's always great to see industry figures taking their jobs seriously and rising to tough challenges, but there's no doubt that happy employees make better games. Just ask Bungie. Or Naughty Dog. Or Infinity Ward. [Kotaku]

This is a safe space, Keiji- and we're only saying this because we love you. Take a holiday!

FPS Trailer Deathmatch: Black Ops vs MOH

The Wartime Winter has already kicked off, with Halo Reach launching the first salvo. However, gaming's most bitter rivals are about to go head to head in the lucrative FPS market- and as you'd expect, marketing hype has reached fever pitch. Let's pander to it!

First of all (as promised), we have the Call of Duty: Black Ops Campaign Trailer. Cinematic doesn't quite cover it.

And in the brown, dusty corner: Medal of Honor! EA's strong challenge to Activision has released today in the US, so naturally there's a shiny new launch trailer to whet your appetite. This is escalation.

Okay, folks: it's time to decide. Which shooter are you gunning for? Have your say in the comments!

US Marine Slams MOH Depiction; Challenges Gamers To Enlist

EA's decision to include and subsequently rebrand the Taliban in their upcoming Medal of Honor reboot has sparked a powerderkeg of negative publicity, but it's important to note that many military critics are actually directing their fire at the gameplay itself rather than the name of the opposition. No game can depict the horrors of real war, but former US Marine Corps infantryman and Iraq veteran Benjamin Busch argues that EA are actually perpetrating a dangerous piece of disinformation by claiming that MOH represents an authentic experience.

I honestly don't like that Medal of Honor depicts the war in Afghanistan right now, because - even as fiction - it equates the war with the leisure of games.

A videogame can produce no wounds and take no friends away.

EA have been making a huge amount of noise about Tier 1 Operators and special forces consultants, but it's always worth getting some perspective. Medal of Honor is a game, after all- and thus is likely to be as far removed from the genuine article as it's possible to get. Which is a good thing. I'd very much like to hear your opinions on the second point, though. In a sobering parting comment, Busch concluded there's only one way for us gamers to achieve the real Medal of Honor Experience.

For those who truly want to play for a Medal of Honor, recruiters are standing by. Only eight have been awarded since we invaded Afghanistan," he closed. "All but one have been posthumous.

Thought-provoking stuff. Things keep going from bad to worse for Medal of Honor... and we hope that there's going to be a stellar game behind the publicity. Early reviews are looking positive- and we'll find out this Friday. [NPR]